The dispute over sharing Cauvery river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has resulted in an unexpected victim - Tamil films - which have been summarily banned from screening in the state.

Since the last three-four days, theatres and multiplexes in the state, especially in south Karnataka districts, have stopped screening Tamil films fearing attacks by pro-Kannada activists and farmers.

It is a routine for theatres and multiplexes to suspend screening of Tamil movies whenever tension between the two states escalates over sharing of Cauvery river water. Though the decision is voluntary, in the past, the Tamil film fraternity has expressed anguish over the move.

Incidentally, in 1991, when riots erupted in Karnataka over Cauvery, the screening of Tamil movies was stopped for almost a year. There is a huge market for Tamil cinemas in Karnataka, with blockbusters earning close to Rs 4 crore as revenue from the state.

To make matters worse for Tamil cinemas, several of the leading stars in Tamil cinema hail from Bangalore. Tamil super star Rajinikanth, leading actresses Anushka Shetty, Priyamani, Arjun Sarja, and several others are from Karnataka.

As of now, only one film has been affected by the ban. Thandavam, featuring national award winning actor Vikram and Anushka Shetty, received a phenomenal opening at the box office in Karnataka last week. However, theatre owners have stopped screening the movie.

"It is a sensitive issue in Karnatakaâ€¦ No doubt the state has a significant population of Tamilians. If we put up banners and posters of Tamil movies and glorify them, it might anger Kannadigas because of the Cauvery row. We don't mind waiting for the issue to die down," said M Dhanashekar, owner of multiple theatres in Bangalore.

Last time when some of the theatre owners screened Tamil movies during the Cauvery row, anti-social elements, under the guise of Kannada activists, had damaged the theatres and burnt the screens. So, now, theatre owner is willing to take the risk now.

The Kannada film fraternity too has extended support to the Cauvery cause. Leading actors and technicians of the Kannada film industry have joined hands with the farmers in Cauvery basin for the Karnataka bandh on October 6.